Forgive Us

Has a member of the Mafia or maybe a gang member ever been after you? Has anyone ever had your phone number and their mission was to track you down and make you pay. Their job is to collect past due payments. They will threaten to ruin your credit, call the police or even tell your mother. You see a good day for them means a bad day for everyone they contact. Why would anyone want a job such as that? Collectors spend the day making people feel bad. No one wants to take their call. No one is happy to see them at the door. No one wants to read their letters. What does the wife say when their husband heads off to work? Maybe something of this nature "have a good day and make 'em squirm, honey."

Could you imagine spending your days like that? Maybe you can! Have you ever spent time demanding payment? Does someone owe you something? Do they owe you an apology, a second chance, a fresh start, an explanation, a thank you, a childhood or a marriage? Maybe your parents should have been more protective. Your children should have been more appreciative. Or yes your spouse; well they should have been more sensitive. Dealing with debt is at the heart of your happiness. It's also at the heart of the Lord's Prayer.

Matthew 6:12
And forgive us our debts,.

Matthew 6:14
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

Matthew 6:15
But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
You know what? The Lord doesn't question the reality of your wounds. He doesn't doubt that you have been sinned against. But the issue is not the existence of pain; the issue is the treatment of pain.
Remember the Amos and Andy show? Well one day Amos asked Andy what was the little bottle he was wearing around his neck. Andy said, "It's Nitroglycerine." Amos then said what are you wearing that around your neck for? Then Andy tells him about a certain fellow who has a bad habit of poking people in the chest while he is talking to them. The next time he pokes me in the chest I will blow his finger off. When we try to get even we always get hurt. Let's think for a moment and ask ourselves how much is enough? Would an apology suffice, or would an Explanation? How appreciative is enough? Picture that person that you think owes you; they are tied to a whipping post the question is how many lashes? Ok, you come up with a number; the whip cracks, the blood flows and the punishment is inflicted. Are you happy now? Do you feel better? Are you at peace? How long will it be before that memory surfaces again? You say that's it the memory won't return; sure it will and the reason being you wanted justice when you should have just forgiven! Is that the way we want God to treat us? Of course not and He doesn't want us to treat each other like that either. Tomorrow we will talk about forgive us….. as we forgive… and what is this prayer implying?

Impact

I was praying a while back and thanking God for the people who had a significant influence on me. These people had made a real difference in my life but they didn't know it. Then I had this thought; what if one day I was standing at the funeral home telling their families about the influence and difference their loved one had made in my life. When one of them would say I'm sure they were glad to hear how much they influenced you. Then I thought I never let them know how much they had impacted my life. That would be awful to let such a thing happen. On the next morning I called five men who had in one way or another made an impact in my life over the last 10 years; and I was right they didn't know. Is that not what the Apostle Paul was saying

1Thesslonians 2:8
So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. Is Paul not saying "we felt strongly about you that we not only shared the Good News of the Gospel with you but we shared our lives with you also?" That is just what those men had done in my life they share the Good News with me every time they told me what God had done in their life. They share things with me about themselves that made me stronger. They impacted my life by the Gospel, they impacted my life in the ministry, they impacted my life in Business, they impacted my life in how to deal with problems that arise, they impacted my life in dealing with others and they taught me how to forgive and how to have a real relationship with Jesus Christ. Had I not taken the time to tell them they would have never known? Just the other day one of them had a birthday I picked up the phone and gave them a called and this is what I said. "Today is a great day for on this day a man was born who would greatly impact my life and I am thankful to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for allowing our paths to cross, so I just wanted you to know how much you mean to me and tell you Happy Birthday." His reply was that was awful nice of you to say that; and all I said was you are a good friend who has helped more than you'll ever know this side of eternity.

Give it some thought; has God allowed someone to cross your path that has greatly impacted you? Is there anyone you can think of that has influenced you in the past five to ten years? If so why don't you let them know; just tell them what an impact and influence that they had on your life. I am sure they don't know and as I heard a person say long ago "give me roses by telling how much I mean to you now and you can forget sending then to a funeral home." Have a great weekend and don't miss what God wants to tell you at your Place of Worship. Pick up the phone send an email or get on FB and let someone know how you feel about them. See you Monday.

Sting Operation

These individuals came into this store, waving a piece of paper indicating that they had just won a free DVD player and they were coming to claim it. What they didn't know was that notice had been mailed by the police to their last known address. See, these people were wanted, but they had disappeared. When they checked their mail, they had news of having won that DVD player. The amusing part came when the police arrested them on the spot as some of them were actually laughing at what they thought was a joke or a "Candid Camera" stunt. It was no joke. They were going to jail. That's what the police call a "sting operation." It really worked to offer something good just to capture people. The police used that strategy to accomplish good things. Satan has been using that strategy for a long time to accomplish his destructive purposes in people's lives. He may be using his sting operation to capture you right now. The Bible describes his devious tactics in 2Timothy 2:26 And that they may recover (regain; to get or obtain that which was lost) themselves out of the snare (anything by which one is entangled and brought into trouble) of the devil, who are taken captive (A prisoner taken by force by an enemy ;) by him at his will. Paul talks about people for whom it is his desire "that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will." I don't know anybody who wants to end up doing the will of the devil, whose desire is to be Satan's captive. Many times we fall into his clever trap which is invariably baited with something good. It just looks like a small compromise. The lure may be the promise of sexual pleasure, or sexual conquest, or a chance to feel loved. The lure could be a chance to get ahead, to get out of a jam just by a little lie or a compromise of your integrity. Maybe the devil is tempting you with what looks like the advantages of leaving your marriage vows, the thrill or the relief from checking out a little pornography, the satisfaction of getting even, or the relief you'll get from abandoning a commitment. The devil's basic strategy is really pretty simple: get you obsessed with the prize you might get so you're blind to the trap you're walking into. He'll convince you that "it's just this once" ... "just a little" ... "it won't hurt." Lies. All lies. Jesus exposed the devil when he said he was "the father of lies" and "there is no truth in him." John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. He is the "thief" who comes "only to steal, kill and destroy." You will not ultimately get what he seems to be offering, the satisfaction, the love, the excitement, the relief. It is only Satan's bait to take you captive and ruin everything he can in your life. He'll promise you anything to get you to walk into his trap. Now, while you still can, run from that temptation you've been flirting with. Surrender yourself to Jesus and "be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power ... take your stand against the devil's schemes." Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. If you're being lured into a sting operation from hell, you cannot afford to go for the prize that you'll actually never get. But, of course, you won't know that until the handcuffs are on you and the cell door slams shut. Please don't go there!

Forgiven

It is great to go on vacation. Leave the room and when you return it's all clean. I remember going on a cruise and every time we would leave the room and return it was always clean. A person can get used to that real quick. Every door you walk through opened and closed all by itself; after a week of that I began to think all doors were like that. After we were back to the real life I walked up to a door and it didn't open! Would you believe I walked right into it and hit my head; it only happened once for I came back to earth real fast. Let's go back to the room that those kind people cleaned up. I could have asked them why they did this and they more than likely would have said "I have come, to put your things in order." Is that not what Jesus does? He comes to set our hearts in order. You and I can mess them up pretty good butHe comes to clean them.

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Did you see how that worked? He knocks and we open up. It didn't read "Behold I beat on the door until it is knocked down and I come in and you listen to me." No, it's not that way at all. He knocks and if you don't want to open the door you don't have to. But if you do open the door He will come in and give you peace

John 14: 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Free peace "peace I give unto you." Peace is only a door opening away and we spend a life time looking for it. One day, Jesus Christ came to the door of my life and it was a mess. I had spent the last 22 years doing things my way and there was no peace.

Isaiah 59:2
But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. Imagine, cut off from the One who has the love, the meaning, and the eternal life that we're looking for. There are two deadly mistakes that keep people from heaven. Thinking you're too good to need Jesus or thinking you're too bad for Jesus to take you. I work with people that are addicted to things that are destroying their lives and they really want help and many times they feel that they are just too bad for Jesus to love them and forgive them. That is not so at all but then on the other hand there are those who are God's children and they think they are too good to even give the time of day to those who are too bad. That's why many who have a problem will not come to the Church for help and that's a shame. On one hand we claim peace and on the other we push those away who want peace. What did Jesus say?

Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. When you and I decide to HUMBLE ourselves then and only then will we find peace. I love working with those who are addicted because when they ask the Lord to forgive them they are golden and their face lights up like a bright light. Tears run down their face and their hands go into the air in praise and their lives are NEVER the SAME. Can you say amen to that or not!

First Impression

I was watching my grandson play baseball one night last week as I was reminded of something I already knew but had forgotten. The lesson was that first impressions aren't always correct. The ball game was won we were two runs ahead there were two outs; sure there were two base runners but what were the chances that this team would beat us for they were at the end of their batting order. Here comes this little guy to the plate as I thought to myself this boy can't hit any more than I can fly. I was already rejoicing in the soon victory. Then it happened, that little guy who I knew couldn't hit the ball just nailed it. It was a hard hit ground ball that went right through the infield out into right field; one run scores then another; that little guy who couldn't hit was headed for third base and where was the ball? Still in right field; as the ball began its way slooooowly back to the infield the little guy who couldn't hit was now almost home and yes he crossed the plate, the game is over and we lost. The little guy who couldn't hit; well he was hailed a hero and I was reminded you can't go on first impressions! Jesus was born in a manger and they said He was the Savior of mankind! First impression was how could this be He didn't look like a Savior just a baby and how in the world could a baby be a Savior? Then one day this baby who had grown got up from the dead and walked out of His tomb. Many would find this hard to believe. Then a man, a woman, a boy and a girl all claimed to have received Jesus into their hearts and He had forgiven them of their sins. How could this be? First impressions can fool you and those impressions can also be very wrong. Be careful this week when you make that first impression for that person may just be the one who will knock in the winning run.

 

Encounter

I have been thinking about this statement; everyone that has ever had an encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ has a story to tell. If you remember you read that yesterday; let's look at it some more. As I read my Bible those who have had an encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ were never the same. There was a woman that had a problem for 12 years; she had tried everything and she was getting no better. Then one day Jesus came to where she was and things changed

Matthew 9:20
And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: what happen to her?

Matthew 9:22
But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman made whole from that hour.

Things changed and her life was never the same. There was a man who had been lame for 38 years and one day his life changed forever.

John 5:5
And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

John 5:6When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? His life was change forever that day. There was a man by the name of Saul on his way to destroy others lives and he saw a bright shining light

Acts 9:3
And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

Acts 9:4
And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

Acts 9:5
And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. He too was never the same his name later was change to the Apostle Paul and he wrote most of the New Testament. Then there was a young man by the name of Wayne who asked the Lord to come into his heart and forgive him of his sin 37 years ago this month and his life has never been the same either.

2Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Everyone who is "in Christ," through faith in His name, is a "new creation."

We are new people. We are not the old person reformed or improved; we are a "new creation." I love it, a new creation! Foolishness is replaced by wisdom. What makes this all possible? It happened long ago it's called Easter it's the day the Lord got up from the grave and LIFE has never been the same for those who have place their trust and faith in Him. This Sunday is Easter, the day we celebrate the Lord resurrection; and those who have trusted Him have a story to tell for they are not the same, the reason being they are a New Creation. Get to a Church near you this Sunday and you may leave there with a story to tell. God Bless each and everyone see you Monday.

The Fog

I went to Paraguay in 1993 with two other men to visit a missionary that our Church supported. When we arrived it was around 10 PM and we were all tired so we went to bed, the day had been long. As we awoke the next morning there was a fog floating across the floor. I had never experienced anything like that before and have not since then. The sun began to rise higher and higher in the sky and the fog began to lift. It was then that I saw it; a beautiful waterfall which had been hidden by the fog. As I think about that, it we reminds me of how the women must have felt as they went to the tomb of our Lord and Savior. They had been there a few hours earlier as they watched the Lord Jesus die on the cross and then taken to the tomb.

Luke 23:55
And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.

Luke 23:56
And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

John 20:1
The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. Now they had come back to the tomb and discovered the stone leading into the tomb was taken away. Confused about what was going on she saw something that brought more confusion

John 20:2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. The tomb was empty and the Lord was gone; they ran to tell Peter and John and those two rushed to the tomb. After these two disciples had confirmed what Mary had told them they retuned back to their home.

John 20:10
Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
But Mary was not in a big hurry to return home she wanted to know what was really going on and it wasn't long before she did. John 20:11
But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,

John 20:12
And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
What, two angels; had Peter not just been in that tomb? Why didn't he notice the two angels? Mary could see them from the outside.

John 20:6
Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
No angels were there and the longer Mary stayed the more that was revealed to her.

John 20:13
And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.

John 20:14
And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

John 20:15
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

John 20:16
Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Like the beautiful waterfall I saw that morning Mary saw something far more beautiful! She was the first to see the risen Lord and had a story to tell and she went and told it! Everyone that has ever had an encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ has a story to tell. What's yours? Are you still living in the Fog? You see the longer Mary kept hanging around the more the Lord Jesus revealed Himself. The more you and I spend in His word the more He reveals Himself. Are you like Peter in a hurry to get back home and missing what the Lord wants you to see or are you like Mary just keep hanging around!